Concepts for Commonwealth up for comment

Residents will have an opportunity to give feedback on potential enhancements to north Bexley's Commonwealth Park.

A public forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Bexley City Hall, 2242 E. Main St. A steering committee of 15 Bexley residents that has been working since spring to draft a master plan for the park will present ideas and ask residents to rate them, Mayor Ben Kessler said.

Commonwealth Park is "used by residents throughout the city. It's enjoyed also by the people who live (around) it," he said. "A diversity of feedback would be really helpful."

Commonwealth Park is located east of North Parkview Avenue and west of North Drexel Avenue, and is bordered by Commonwealth Park North and Commonwealth Park South streets. About a third of the park's area is used for athletic practice and playing fields for youth sports programs. The remainder of the park serves as passive greenspace, with outdoor exercise stations located on the western half of the park.

Some of the ideas that will be presented at the public workshop include concepts for new landscaping, storage for exercise equipment and how to unite the two sides of the park, said Michael Price, director of the city's Recreation and Parks Department.

Residents will be asked to weigh in on what they like and dislike, Price said.

"This first meeting is really important in terms of gathering raw data from residents," Price said.

Brian Kent Jones, the Columbus design firm that Bexley hired to oversee the Commonwealth Park master plan process, will compile the public feedback, Price said. The firm will work with the project steering committee to draft a more-detailed plan that will be presented for further public input before the end of the year.

The final plan will be presented to the city's Recreation Board, Tree and Public Gardens Commission and City Council for approval. For more information, visit Bexley.org.